RED-BACKED SHRIKE. 185 



bird, but its vocal powers, though described as pleashig, are 

 not of first-rate order. The note resembles that of the Sparrow, 

 which is not pre-eminent for beauty; but it occasionally warbles 

 a little, and is said to imitate the voices of other birds. The 

 clamorous habit spoken of under the G-rey Shrike, is not 

 peculiar to it, but attaches also to the one before us: it seems 

 to run in the family. They are particularly attentive to their 

 young, feeding them after they have left the nest. 



The nest is placed, v/ithout much attempt at concealment, 

 in a hedge or bush. It is large for the size of the bird, 

 being from six to seven inches across, somewhat deep like a 

 cuj), and is composed of the stalks of plants, grass, wool, and 

 moss; and is lined with small roots, and, occasionally, it is 

 said, with haii\ The edge of the top rather projects over 

 the side. 



Gr. Grantham, Esq. has favoured me with the egg of this 

 bird, which I have often in former years taken myself, more 

 or less spotted with red. In general they are pale reddish 

 white, spotted with two shades of darker red and reddish 

 brown, and the base is encircled by a belt, formed of an 

 irregular conglomeration of the same. Occasionally they are 

 pale bluish white, or white, and sometimes greenish white, 

 spotted v\dtli brown and gi'ey, or rufous. They are five or 

 six in number. The band already alluded to has been occa- 

 sionally found at the narrow end. 



The old and young birds keep up the family connection 

 until the time for migration has arrived. The latter do not 

 moult until after they have left this countr}^ but return in 

 the garb of their perfect birdhood. 



Male; vv^eight, eight drachms; length, about seven inches or 

 seven and a half; bill, bright black, strong, thick, nmch hooked, 

 curved, and notched near the point— a black band runs from 

 over the bill, above and below the eye to the nape. Iris, 

 reddish brown; forehead, black; head, bluish grey, sometimes 

 tinged with yellowish; neck, white on the sides; nape, bluish 

 gre}^, sometimes tinged v;ith yellowish; chin, nearly white; 

 throat, white; breast, pale yellowish pink; back, rufous on the 

 upper part, but lower down bluish grey. The wings expand 

 to about twelve inches and a quarter; greater and lesser wing 

 coverts, rufous; primaries, dusky black, edged with rufous on 

 the outer web; the first feather is not half as long as the 

 second, the second and fourth nearly equal, the third the 

 longest in the wing. Secondaries, the same, -vvith the margins 



